Regional Finals Coverage - Sunday

Sunday has arrived and we find ourselves in the final day of the EU and US 2009 Regional Finals here in Cologne, Germany. The first two days have come and gone with record speed and we have seen some very exciting matches take place in both Warcraft 3 and World of Warcraft.

Yesterday we got to see the European finals in what was perhaps one of the most exciting two sets of competitive World of Warcraft to date. x6tence, the defending European champions, managed to come back from the lower brackets and take the title once again.

You can read more about the final game here: http://forums.wow-europe.com/thread.html?topicId=9520949811&sid=1&pageNo=2#28

Today however, we will be watching the last set of US matches. Anticipation and expectations are high as we are left with the following 4 teams to duke it out not only for the title of North American regional champions, but for a chance to visit Blizzcon and participate in the WorldWide Grand Finals of 2009: Evil Geniuses, TSG, Team eMg and SK Gaming.

Before that though, the first thing up on the stream is the Warcraft 3 match between Sonkie and LongWalk. Be sure to tune in at our Regional Finals page here: http://eu.blizzard.com/rf09/index.xml

This thread will be updated as the day passes by and we encourage everyone to share predictions, thoughts and comments about the upcoming matches.

The first match we've seen on the live stream was the Winner Bracket finals between team EG and SK Gaming. Excitement is rising as we get to follow what is considered by many as the worlds best RMP team (SK Gaming) vs EG, playing Warlock/Shaman/Rogue.

As we jump into the first round we find ourselves in the Dalaran Sewers. The match opens up very quickly with SK Gaming putting pressure on Azael off the bat, taking him down to 7k hitpoints before getting healed up. EG's rogue, Zyyz, got caught in a pet nova before getting to use his opener on anyone. EG manages to recover from the slow opening and focuses their pressure on Enforcer who is eating damage while stuck in a Kidney Shot, forcing Realz to put a throw out a pain suppression to keep him alive. Meanwhile Azael is taking a lot of damage but thanks to Kollectiv's high level of play the wound poison on Azael is removed before he receives a 15k heal putting him out of immediate danger. SK Gaming then swaps target onto Zyyz who gets blown up in a matter of moments, resulting in a 1-0 lead to SK Gaming.

The second round follows suit, still in the Dalaran Sewers, with Zyyz once again getting brought out of stealth prematurely by a pet nova. SK Gaming jumps Zyyz who is forced to use a Cloak of Shadows in order to get healed back up. Pookz catches Azael with a polymorph which is trinketed off as Kollectiv activates Bloodlust for his team. At this point pressure is being applied by both teams as Zyyz has to follow up his defensive play with an evasion. He manages to stay alive and continue assisting Azael and Kollektiv in pressuring SK's Rogue, Extracrispy. Realz, being forced to Pain suppression his team mate, has his hands busy keeping everyone alive. Damage is being traded by both teams and it ends with Pooks going down after eating a KidneyShot. The score is now 1-1.

The third round, taking place in the Ring of Valor, starts out with SK gaming gunning for Zyyz from the get go. After bringing him low on health a target swap occurs, bringing Azael down to 5k within moments and inevitably resulting in his death thanks to a well timed Polymorph by Pookz on Kollectiv. SK take the lead once again, now 2-1.

In the fourth round we once again find ourselves in the Dalaran Sewers where Zyyz, after avoiding getting pulled out by any pet novas, sprints into an Arcane Explosion before getting his opener off. SK are pressuring Azael hard before swapping to Zyyz who ends up going down thanks to yet another Polymorph on Kollektiv. Pookz's CC wins the game with the final score being 3-1 to SK Gaming.

Next up on the stream is the match between eMg and TSG, its' result set to determine who gets to go on to the Lower Bracket finals. We jump straight into the first round in Blade's Edge where we see that Twix has re-specced into a Survival spec. As the doors open, Veex charges up the ramp and straight into the middle of the bridge, leaving himself open for focus fire. As Veex is getting low on health he continues to stay on his target, namely Twix. However the damage input is too high and Veex ends up getting very low and inevitably killed as Zilea is unable to catch up with the heals. eMg takes the first round, 1-0.

Round two contiues where we left off in Blade's Edge, both teams charging into the bridge area. Payce, eMg's paladin, gets a lot of pressure very early and is forced to use his bubble to stay alive. Meanwhile, his team mates Twix and Niero are both getting dangerously low and Payce is forced to use BoP on Niero while Twix saves himself with deterrence. eMg manages to recover from the heavily defensive play and puts a lot of pressure on Veex and Zilea. Zilea is forced to bubble himself, BoP veex and tries to catch up on the healing. Unfortunately, it is to no avail as he dies shortly after. Despite TSG having lost their healer, they do not give up as they manage to drop eMg's paladin, Payce, shortly after losing Zilea. eMg follows suit by dropping Veex and leaving TSG with in a 1v2 with only Valrath left alive. Valrath, still determined to win, pulls off a 1v2 vs eMg's Death Knight and Hunter and wins the round for TSG resulting in a 1-1 score.

The third round is set to play out in the Ring of Valor as both teams open up on each other quickly. TSG manages to get all three of eMg's players low on health, mostly thanks to Valrath's efforts. eMg suddenly find themselves incredibly pressured, very fast, as the damage input is too great for Payce to keep up with. The round ends with TSG taking the victory, 2-1 in their favour.

In the fourth round of the match we find ourselves in the Ruins of Lordaeron. The match starts pretty much with instant action as TSG open up on Twix in the middle of the field who is forced to use deterrence right away. Additional pressure is also put on Payce who is forced to bubble thanks to a clutch Arcane Torrent. While Payce is struggling to catch up with healing, Veex uses his bladestorm and drops Niero with assistance from Valrath. The match ends 3-1 for TSG who are now in the Lower Bracket finals against Evil Geniuses.

In the Lower Bracket finals, TSG and EG were pitted up against each other to determine both who would secure themselves a ticket to Blizzcon, and also who would get to face off against SK Gaming in the grand finals. We are sure that the pressure could be felt for both teams as they lined up by their desks ready to enter the fight.

In the first round being played in the Ruins of Lordaeron, TSG open up on Kollektiv who goes down pretty much instantly thanks to a well timed Strangulate and Zyyz being brought out of Stealth before getting his Cheap Shot off. Losing Zyyz's opener cost EG the opening momentum and pressure that lead to TSG's game point. The score is now 1-0.

Round two takes place in the Dalaran Sewers and starts with Zyyz being pulled out of stealth by Zilea's HoJ. TSG follow up on the opening momentum by jumping straight on Azael and take him down dangerously low before he gets a 9k heal. EG turn the pressure right back at TSG, however, as their focus fire on Veex and Zilea forces Zilea to bubble in order to keep up on healing. Without letting the momentum slip, EG continues to pressure with fast target swaps between Veex, Valrath and back to Veex who dies as a result. EG can happily claim a 1-1 score.

We find ourselves in Nagrand arena as the third round starts. EG keep their momentum up from the previous round and force Zilea to put a BoP on Veex who also activates his shield wall. Meanwhile, TSG are not about to give up and pressure Azael with some nicely coordinated focus fire. While EG switches to Valrath, Veex activates his bladestorm and drops Azael swiftly, concluding the third round in a 2-1 score in TSG's favour.

Ring of Valor is the map for the fourth round and we watch TSG open up on Azael as soon as they get the opportunity to do so. EG counter by applying pressure on Veex, manage to get him low but are unable to capitalise on the play as Veex then gets healed all the way up. Unwilling to give up, they then swap to Valrath who goes down despite of Zilea's best efforts healing from within his bubble. The score is now equalised: 2-2.

The fifth and final round of the set takes place in Nagrand arena, and we watch TSG opening on Azael while also pulling Zyyz out of stealth early. Veex, determined to put monumental pressure on EG from the very start, gets right on Kollektive and activates his BladeStorm. Kollektiv, who is forced into defensive play by Veex, manages to get away and get healed up to full. While Kollektiv is catching up on heals, TSG swaps to Azael and drop him swiftly and efficiently. With a 3-2 victory in the Lower Brackets, TSG go on to face SK Gaming in the Grand Finals. They can also rest happily assured that they have secured their spot in the WorldWide Finals at Blizzcon 2009.

In the very last World of Warcraft match of the day, we find SK gaming set to face off against TSG for the title of US Regional Champions and a hefty slump of money. Without much fuss we find the first round underway in the Ring of Valor. TSG open the match by Death Gripping Realz into the thick of things but are unable to capitalise on the play as Realz gets some assitance from Pooks and escapes using Pain Suppression to stay alive. From there SK turn the tide of the battle in an instant as they force Zilea to bubble only to have it Mass Dispelled. While Zilea catches up on the healing, SK swaps target to Valrath and drop him in the matter of a full duration Kidney shot. SK gaming takes the first round of the Grand Finals.

Minutes later the second match starts as we watch Veex charging into Pookz on the Nagrand Arena. Enforcer gets caught in a fear by Veex but trinkets it and gets straight onto Zilea. On SK Gaming's end, Realz is forced to use Pain suppression on Pookz after he already had used his IceBlock. TSG, not willing to let the pressure drop, stick to their target and manage to drop him fast as there is no IceBlock of Pain Suppression to save him from the hard hitting melee. TSG takes the round and equalises the score to 1-1.

The third round is pretty much all one way as SK Gamign open on Zilea, throwing both Imp CounterSpells and Kidneyshots his way. Zilea in return trinkets the kidney shot in order to get away. The match goes on for a few as SK keep the pressure up and finally are able to drop Zilea with a combination of Mass Dispel on the bubble followed by a second Imp CS. At this point, Zilea is dangerously low and it is not a hard task for Enforcer to finish him off. SK takes the lead: 2-1.

In the fourth round of the Grand Finals, we can see TSG charging into Enforcer in hopes to keep his stuns off their paladin. Despite Zilea using his bubble to heal himself to full, as soon as he pops back out into the match SK swaps target once again to him and pretty much blows him up in a matter of moments. SK Gaming wins the match 3-1, securing the title of US Regional Champions and 5000 dollers each.

With that set of power plays, SK Gaming have proved their ability to the world by claiming the title of US Regional Champions. We look forward to seeing them defend their honor in the WorldWide Grand Finals at Blizzcon 2009.

Congratulations to them, and thanks to everyone who came to the venue to make the event as memorable as it has been.

With that; Over and Out from the event venue here in Cologne, Germany.